Ritter Issues Executive Order For Drug Buys

Gov. Ritter signed an executive order today that will allow the state to buy prescription drugs at a discount. The order will establish a preferred drug list (PDL) that Ritter estimates will save the state $1.6 million a year. The move bypasses a fight in the legislature, which irks House Minority Leader Mike May and Sen. Minority Leader Andy McElhany. But, the legislature passed similar bills regarding PDLs in 2005 and 2006, and likely would have again this session. Both those measures were vetoed by then-Gov. Bill Owens, a Republican. Ritter had said he would issue the order during his State of the State speech Jan. 11.